The Perishers – Let There Be Morning / 2005 Nettwerk / 10 Tracks / http://www.theperishers.com / http://www.nettwerk.com / Reviewed 16 July 2005

Ola’s vocals on “Let There Be Morning’s” first track “Weekends” are simply fantastic. Spacey but not the mindless chatter created by acts like Coldplay, Ola’s vocals will draw listeners in from the first work spon until the last gasp of breath finishes off the disc. The twinkling guitar of a track like “Sway” really models itself on the vocals created for the track; this full sound (made even more so by the strings on the track) really will find a way to treat everyone, regardless of musical leanings. The music may not be the most experimental or hard-edged, but where The Perishers succeed the most has to be in their creation of a radio-friendly brand of alt, pop-influenced rock that does not sing down to its listeners (Broken Social Scene) or rely on extreme pomposity (Coldplay).

While the disc taps out at forty minutes, the exceeding endearing tracks on “Let There Be Morning”, especially the molding of the listener’s psyche that the entire instrumental core of the band does during “Nothing Like You and I” does make the disc go on for thrilling eons. It is truly a daunting chore to pick out specific guitar riffs or bass lines during “Let There Be Morning”, as the band works so perfectly together as a cohesive, well-oiled machine. What results is not four individuals trying to out-do each other, but four artists creating a magnum opus that transcends anything that an individual could do. The cohesion that the band has in creating “Let There Be Morning” may be their one negative, beyond being a shining positive.

While all of the tracks shine well above the average music that is put on the market, there is nothing that really stands head and shoulders above the rest of the tracks on the disc. “Pills” may be the one track to do so, however as the female vocals thrown alongside Ola’s really create a nice aural affect. Couple that with a Spartan piano line and a compelling but not overblown track results; this is what “Leather and Lace” should have sounded like. Finishing up the disc with the masterful title track, The Perishers have made a disc of love and longing, tying together disparate elements to make something not quite unlike a movie. While the tracks contain much of the same material (let’s say characters) as the rest of the disc, the styles approached in the tracks (scenes) are different enough to keep people listening.

Top Tracks: Pills, Let There Be Morning

Rating: 7.2/10